Multiple-piece spinning top



Nov. 4, 1958 S. J. DROBNIEWSKI I MULTIPLE-PIECE SPINNING TOP Filed Sept.24, 1954 IN VE/V TOR Stephan I; Orobniews/ri fwd/fl ATTORNEY:

United States Patent MULTIPLE-PIECE SPINNING TOP Stephan J. Drobniewski,Chicago, 111.

Application September 24, 1954, Serial No. 458,187

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-16) This invention relates to an improved type ofspinning top, and more specifically, to providing for the multipleplececonstruction of a spinning top which permits new and useful advantagesas a toy.

The usual types of top construction provide variations in design andform but, in general, all utilize single piece bodies and fixed types ofspindles or tips on which the top actually does the spinning. It is alsoobserved that tops of the conventional single-piece construction are noteasily spun by the younger children and that they have no other use as atoy. In my Patent No. 2,546,218, issued March 27, 1951, I discloseimproved types of spinning tops which have rotatable pins in axiallypositioned sleeves whereby the top may be held while starting thespinning motion with a string, or with the fingers. The loose rotatablepin construction also permits the top to be picked up by the pin andmoved to a different It is a principal object of the invention toprovide a spinning top having a separate spindle section and separatebody sections whereby many different top body configurations may beassembled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a multiple-piece topwhich has different shaped or different sized body sections which are ofan interlocking nature permitting their use as a substantially separate.toy.

"Broadly the present invention may be set forth as a multiple-piecespinning top comprising in combination, a separate center spindle havingan axial hole bored therethrough and at least one rotatable pin mountedtherein, a .plurality of removable body sections with each sectionhaving .a perforated center portion adapted toslidably pass over andbecome assembled with the center spindle, andmeans keying the removablebody sections with the spindle whereby the top may be assembled andspun.

The advantages and features of the improved multiplepiece constructionare more readily set forth and understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing and to the following explanation thereof.

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the improved multiple-piece spinningtop having a plurality of different sized. disk shaped members engaginga separate center spindle.

Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing indicate modified types of designs andconstructions for the separate spindle sections.

Figure 4 of the drawing shows an assembled multiplepiece top having aseparate center spindle and a plurality '2 of concentric rings orcylinder-like sections being utilized as the body of the top.

Figure 5 is a plan view of-the assembled 'topshown in Figure 4 ofthedrawing.

Figure 6 shows a plan view of a top using ring sections as shown inFigures '4 and 5, but with the ring sections assembled cross-wise withrespect to one another.

Figure 7 shows an assembly of disk-like body sections, such as areutilized in Figure 1, to provide an interlocking type of toy.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing, there is shown a centerspindle section 1 and a plurality of disklike body sections, numbered 2through 8, each of which has a center hole or perforation adapted toslide over the center spindle 1. Each of the disk-like body sections arepreferably of a different diameter or size so that they may be assembledto provide a configuration or'contour as shown, which is equivalent tothat of the usual and conventional top, however, it should be noted thatthe disk body sections may be assembled in a random manner and thespinning of the top is not afifected. The lower portion of the centerspindle'section 1 has a flange or shoulder portion 9 so that the lowerdisk member will come to rest at the bottom of the spindle. In thisembodiment, the center spindle 1 is also provided with a projection 10,in the manner of a longitudinal rib or key member, whereby the pluralityof disk-shaped body members may be keyed to the center spindle. -Inother words, each of the disk-like body sections, 2 through 8, areprovided with a notch 11 at the edge of the center hole or perforationwhereby they may he slipped over and engaged with the center spindle 1.It is not intended to limit the present invention to any one method ofkeying the multiple-piecebody sections to a center spindle. For example,a square or rectangular shape, or any noncircular irregular contour ofthe cross-section of the center spindle section, which is conformed toby the perforate portion of the, body section, will provide a suitablekeying means with the ning top.

It is also a feature of the present embodiment of the improvedmultiple-piece spinning top of this invention, to provide at least onerotatable center pin through the center spindle section of the top, suchas the pin 12. Pin 12 is provided with a top ball piece 13 and a lowerpoint or ball piece 14 such that the pin is retained within an axiallybored hole through the center spindle when the top is in use. Theconstruction of the separate center spindle may be as shown with onelong pin 12 extending from the top to bottom thereof, or alternatively,a rotatable pin may be provided at only the top or the bottom portion ofthe center spindle so as to provide the desired means for picking up orinitially holding the assembled spinning top while the body portion isrotating. A double rotating pin arrangement may also be provided. Inother words, a separate top pin and aseparate bottom pin may be utilizedrather than a single pin within a single hole or sleeve extendingthrough the entire axial length of the center spindle section.

It is a feature of the present embodiment utilizing the multiplicity ofdisk-like sections, 2 through-8, to provide at least one notch, likethose indicated by the numeral 15, around the periphery of each of thedisk-like sections. The width of each notch 15 is made equivalent to thethickness of each disk-like section, and the latter are preferably allmade of equivalent thicknesses, so that the disk-sections may beinterlocked and played with by a child as a separate toy. Figure 7 ofthe drawing, shows a plurality of the body members being assembledtogether in an interlocking manner by utilization of the notches 15 atthe edges of each of the adjoining disig members.

Patented Nov. 4, 1958 various body portions of the spin- Referring nowto Figure 2 of the drawing, there is shown a portion of amodifiedconstruction of a center spindle for a spinning top, the spindle sectionbeing indicated by numeral 16 and the center rotatable pin by thenumeral 17. Inthis instance, the spindle section 16 is provided with anotch or groove :18 running throughout 'the length or the center spindlesection 16,where'by a plurality of body sections may be keyed to thespindle by means of a suitable protrusion or key .member which will fitinto the groove 18 and conform therewith ill! a slidable fit. Also inthe embodiment, :the end portion of the center pin 17 is provided withan .eye-like'section 19 which in :turn provides a 'suitable'means forholding the rotatable pin while the body of the top is spinning with thespindle. In like :manner, the :lowerend of the pin 17 may be providedwith an :eye-likemember similar to 19 so that a suitable point or .tipis provided for spinning the assembled top.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawing, there is shown a three-piececenter spindle section for a spinning top, comprising a hollow ortubular center section 20, an upper section 21, and a lower flangedsection 22. As noted =hereinbefore, the separate center spindle sectionsmay have different contours or configurations whereby the multiple-piecebody sections may be keyed therewith, and in this instance, the spindlesection is of a substantially square or rectangular shaped so thatconforming square or rectangular perforations in each of the bodysections will permit the latter to be keyed to the center spindle. Theend sections 21 and 22 are sized to slidably fit into the center tubularsection and provide an assembled spindle. The lower section 22 is,however, provided with a flange or projection 23 whereby the lower body'section may come to rest in assembling the top. Also, as described inconnection with Figure 1 of th drawing, a hole or sleeve is providedaxially through the center spindle and a rotatable pin member 24 isprovided to rotate freely within the upper section 21. Similarly, arotatable pin 25 may be provided for the lower section 22.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawing, there is shown a centerspindle section In, which may be of substant'ially the same design andconstruction as set forth in Figure 1 of the drawing, or alternativelymay be of a different cross-section or modified design which will permitkeying with a plurality of body sections. A pi-urality of concentricallypositioned ring-like membersor sections of cylinders, indicated as 26,27 and 28, are slidably positioned over and keyed with the separatespindle section In. Each of the ring sections, 26, 27 and 28 haveopposing perforate portions designed to conform with the exterior of theseparate center spindle 1a and thus be slidably removable with respectto the latter. The assembled ring sections provide a drum-like shapedtop which is of unusual construction, but may be spun with a string orby the fingers in the same manner as other conventional forms of tops.It is to be noted, that the plurality of ring-like body sections may beassembled in the manner shown in Figure 4 and in the Figure 5, thelatter figure providing a plan view of the assembled top, as indicatedby the line 5 in Figure 4 of the drawing.

It is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a keying.means between the body sections .26,

wise with respect to one another, as indicated in Figure 6 of thedrawing. It will be noted that by utilizing a different notch 29 on theprojection of the center spindle, that the ring-like member 27 is atright angles with respect to the ring-like members 26 and 28.

I claim as my invention:

1. A multiple-piece spinning top comprising in combination, a centerspindle having an elongated portion thereof which is of uniformnon-circular cross section and a flange at one end, said spindle havingan axial hole provided therethrough and a rotatable p'in positioned inand extending throughsaid hole, at least one removable body sectionhaving an open center portion of uniform non-circular cross section andfreely slidable over said elongated spindle to key therewith and restupon said flange of said spindle whereby the top may be assembled andspun.

2. The spinning top of claim 1 is further characterized in that saidremovable body section comprises a plurality of disk shaped sections ofequal thickness and of varying diameter, with each individual disksection having a plurality of notches, said notches being spaced" spacedaround the periphery of the disk and each having a width equal to thethickness of said disks whereby the disk sections when removed from thespindle may be placed within notches and elfect an interlocking frictionengagement with one another.

3. A multiple-piece spinning top comprising in can bination, a "flangedcenter spindle having an elongated portion which is of uniformnon-circular cross section,- With said spindle having a hollow centerportion and separate e'nd pieces sized to slideably engage with therespective ends of the center portion, each of said end pieces having anaxial hole bored therethrough and a rotatable pin positioned in andextending theretlirougi'i; at least-one removable body section having anopen center portion of uniform non-circular cross section and freelyslideable over said elongated spindle to key "therewith and rest uponsaid flange of said spindle whereby the top may be assembled and spun.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS688,655 Langerman Dec. 10, 1901 2,112,182 Tintore Mar. 22, 19382,546,218 Drobniewski Mar. 27, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,8'06 GreatBritain :1891 736,317 France Sept. 13, 1932 601,531 Germany Aug. 17,1934-

